France, Italy-based NATO officer ‘spied’ for Russians: arrested

Published on: 08/30/2020 12:28 PM

A French army lieutenant colonel stationed at a NATO base in Italy was arrested in France for transmitting ultra-sensitive information to a Russian secret service agent. The news, broadcast by the radio ‘Europe 1’, was commented by the French Armed Forces Minister, Florence Parly, who said that the officer is “on trial” for alleged violation of security regulations. “We have taken all the necessary safeguards,” Parly said.

According to ‘Europa 1’, the officer was charged ten days ago and is currently being held in ‘La Santé’ prison in Paris. The French officer, in his fifties and a father of five, has relatives in Russia and is fluent in the Russian language. He was stationed at the Allied Joint Force Command near Naples.

Also according to ‘Europe 1’, it is in Italy where the man was seen having contact with a Russian spy, to be precise an agent of the GRU, the military intelligence service.